Pangaea Guides

Professional Sea Kayak and Glacier Guides

Pangaea Adventures hires to the highest standards and focuses on guides with a great balance of experience, safety, friendly personality, and education. Our guides care about the overall experience of every guest and strive to balance recreation and education. Each guide practices “leave no trace” ethics and creates a comfortable atmosphere for all levels of kayakers. Each head guide is trained in advanced wilderness medicine and rescue. Their backgrounds are all in guiding and teaching. We hire adults who are personable, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, patient, responsible, and safe.

Tim Duffy aka “Duff”

Duff has many years of experience guiding paddling, backpacking and ski-mountaineering trips throughout Alaska. Originally a Maine-ahh, Duff ski guides winters, explores the world on vacation, and is also one of our boat captains. You can sit back and enjoy the cruise with Duff while he throws fun facts at you and sometimes even raps them. He acquired the company in 2008 and says the Valdez vistas still have him in awe.

Kristina Duffy

A native to the Chicago area, Kristina joins us for her eleventh season as the office manager for Pangaea. She graduated with a double BA in Environmental Studies and Spanish from Lake Forest College, and has since spent her time roaming the U.S. and Latin America. Ask her about exploring Machu Picchu, starting an organic farm at LFC and also in Valdez, or learning first hand about immigration issues at the U.S./Mexico border. She’s done all these things! You can also ask her all about Pangaea Adventures, or about how she’s enjoyed her transition to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

David Schmidtman

Dave is the friendly, funny, bright and weathered captain of our workhorse the Mayflower Star. Originating in northern Minnesota, he gained much of his captaining experience running outdoor enthusiasts along Lake Superior’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Northern Michigan. Although you’d never hear it from him, Dave is a true handyman, and no-one this far north can draw a quicker Leatherman. He brings with him a stout work ethic, distinct kindness and rich dialect, and we are all lucky to have him on the team.

Cole Green

Cole is an outdoorsman extraordinaire. Originally out of eastern Idaho, he spends most of his time in South Central and Southeast Alaska, guiding hunts and running fishing charters until the snows force him to go heli-ski guiding. Very down-to-earth, easy to get along with, hard-working and super competent, Captain Cole is a total pleasure and stout asset to this outfit.

Ben Richard

“Bazooka Joe” drove all the way to the land of 3,000,000 lakes from the land of 10,000 lakes for his third summer with Pangaea. If you’re lucky enough to have him as your guide, you’ll probably see him on the stern of the boat with a pair of binoculars to his eyes, always scanning for wildlife with an enormous and inviting smile across his face. A proficient wildlife photographer, Ben is always excited and ready to capture the essence of the Prince William Sound and the many creatures that reside within this amazing seascape.

Lucas Steinberger

Callsign: “Flounder”
Lucas comes to us all the way from coastal Maine, where he is a certified guide. When he’s not on the water, you can find him jamming on his bass or working on his banana pancake recipe. A witty lad with a distinct appreciation for the outdoors, this bonafide Maineiac has a lot of Moxie and can sport some mean LL Bean.

Vanessa Lovel

Born and raised in Alaska, Vanessa is quite knowledgeable about the local birds, marine mammals, and edible plants in the area. She spends her free time foraging, roller blading, and reading books. She has quickly become our go-to yoga instructor and always has a travel-story ready to tell. You can count on Vanessa to be a ray of sunshine on any rainy day!

Katie Cassidy

Callsign: “Topper”
This Oklahoman was a debutante before she came to Valdez to escape the heat. She can show you how to properly curtsey! While she is paddling along, let her humor you with her quips and tips. Katie is all smiles as she takes on her role as gracefully as a sea lion. She’s cute and sweet but fierce and hungry. Just don’t get between her and her vegetables. And if you need advice on how to keep your feet dry throughout the day, Katie is your gal.

Amber Edwards

Amber joins Pangaea this summer as our Office Manager. She graduated with a bachelors in social work from the University of Wisconsin, but she decided to ditch the midwest to satisfy her travel bug. She followed the mountains around the States and South America, and then finally to Alaska. When she’s not sipping americanos in the office, she is most likely to be out on a hike. She loves hitchhiking and staying in hostels, and is prepared for anything with her hot sauce in her backpack. She’ll greet you with a smile and will make sure to set you up with a sweet kayaking tour!

Hallie Bontrager

“Pazookie” is as fun as her call sign. A tornado picked her up in Kansas and deposited her at our office, where we quickly realized that she has enough energy to make it sunny here year-round. We’re pretty sure she’s part of a secret organization; chances are, she knows somebody you know. When she’s not guiding she enjoys making crazy desserts, drinking coffee at The Coffee Co. and picking on “Milk Man” for his dairy consumption habit. At the end of a trip with Pazookie, you’ll be glad your path collided with hers, and you’ll feel like you picked up a new friend.

Ashleigh Bicknell

“Inquisitor” will always get to the bottom of things. She smuggled herself to Valdez from Salt Lake City in a box of gluten-free bread, and is super excited for her second year at Pangaea. She’ll never say no to a dip in glacial water, as long as it’s followed by a brisk jog to our sauna. When she is not guiding or studying, she enjoys paddle boarding, rock climbing and skiing. She’s got some sweet recipes up her sleeve and she’s always up for an adventure! She gets her handle from her relentless quest to answer all of the most important questions.

Baird Doud

Hailing from Minnesota, Baird decided to pause his organic chemistry tutoring sessions to experience life outside the lab. His flat water background and squirrel watching past-time led him on a quest to find where the real wild things are… Up North. But don’t let his midwestern nice personality and blueberry eyes fool you, he also has a deadpan sense of humor and flute skills that’ll blow you away.

Henry Seaton

Henry comes to us from Nashville, TN, after having really developed his affinity for the outdoors during his time in Colorado while attending the University of Denver. He keeps the mood light and us all smiling with his easy-going demeanor and raw sense of humor. Henry is also charming and sure to show you a good time on any tour you join him for.

Taylor McBride

Originally from Colorado, Taylor takes a break from her Intercultural Peace-building and Political Science textbooks for another summer of guiding in Alaska. She enjoys surfing, skateboarding, climbing, reading, and macaroni and cheese. Ask her how she’s related to humpback whales, and why she prefers the cooler waters of AK. She’s super sweet and sure to show you a good time!

Macee Hussey

Macee hails from Seattle, WA, and joins the Pangaea team after having just graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Environmental Studies and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. She brings with her an infectious liveliness, a sparkly smile, a distinct kindness, a profound passion for the outdoors as well as traveling the world, and quite the headful of fiery red hair! We sincerely hope that during your travels here you are fortunate enough to meet Macee.

Brennain Degenhardt

This boyscout was shipped to Alaska from Missouri in a bag of gummy bears. He put his dreams of becoming a chef on hold while he fulfills his dream to live in a perfectly rainy place like Valdez. When he’s not in Colorado studying Music Performance and English, you can find him analyzing the color theory of movies or finding some quality memes. Ask him to make you a cup of coffee and tell you about his cats!

Amanda Bennett

Amanda joins Pangaea this summer after hearing tales of the Great North from her Alta buddies. She has a great sense of humor and not a negative bone in her body. She loves science fiction and being outdoors as much as possible, often camping, rock climbing, or skiing. She’s also quite the artist; ask her about the snowboards, hats, and shoes, among other items, that she has painted for fun. Amanda is a great addition to our team and when you encounter her, either on a kayak tour or in the office, you’ll see why!

Seth Mabbitt

Callsign: Peach Fuzz.
It’ll be an even better day if you happen to score a trip with Seth as your guide! Unable to keep away from Valdez, Seth ditches the sweltering summer heat of South Carolina, where he is finishing up his degree in outdoor education and leadership at North Greenville University. He’s a bright, down-to-earth, east-to-talk-to, well-mannered gentleman, and a serious pleasure to spend time with. A well-rounded outdoor enthusiast, he loves being on the water, climbing, or crashing BBQs.

Natan Shayevich

Handle: Azerbaijan, The Wonder Bread Man.
Hailing from Chicago, Natan joins Pangaea as one of our interns for the summer. With a head packed full of stats, Natan will never cease to inform and amaze you while out with him for a paddle. While Natan isn’t shredding the office or on the water leading trips, you can find him strumming guitar or in the kitchen making tasty dishes you’ve never heard of while listening to a plethora of culturally diverse music. Be sure to ask him about one of his many exotic travel adventures abroad!

Hannah McGowan

Hailing from Memphis, TN, Hannah came to Valdez for the first time as an intern with Pangaea in the summer of 2007. Mystified by the grandeur of Prince William Sound and fascinated by its rich biodiversity, she has returned to Pangaea for many summers to share this unique place with others as a lead guide and trainer. She has pursued studies in marine ecology and wilderness leadership at Prescott College, so she is psyched and well equipped to nerd out about sea life, especially whales and intertidal invertebrates. Since graduating, she has fallen in love with rock and mountain climbing, turning her attention to desert splitters, granite masses, and icy massifs between ski seasons, which she usually spends skiing up and down the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Feeling the pull of the great north and it’s rugged coastline, she often emerges from the landlocked mountains and deserts to return to us in Prince William Sound.

Emma Houston

Easy E is one of those gals that you always want on your team. She’s got more experience under her (tow)belt than most folks twice her age. An Environmental Studies and Ecology major from the University of Maine, Emma joins Pangaea for yet another summer as our lead guide. Growing up in a family of raft guides, Emma learned water safety and paddle techniques at a young age. When she’s not practicing her rolls, leading multi sport adventures, or helping others learn the ropes, Emma enjoys running, skiing, berry picking, a good book, and exploring the world. She’s fun, sweet, wicked sharp, and she’ll blow your mind with her knowledge of Alaska!

Sam Benoit

Hailing from land of the second best cheddar in the world, Sam got his start as an outdoor professional by logging many hours in the woods and on the mountains and waters of Vermont. Since 2010, Sam has led clients on all of the tours Pangaea has to offer, has served as the resident handy man, is a nasty mechanic, obtained his Master License and captained Pangaea’s water taxis, and has operated as a manager and guide trainer. Sam is neither bashful nor unlearned in the flora and fauna of the region so even though he looks like he just crawled out from the depths of the Mayflower Star’s engine room, don’t be shy about asking him a question!

Pete Cueno

Pete Cueno (pronounced Cwain-yo) emerged from the caves of Maquoketa, Iowa where he spent 18 years wrestling corn bears and breaking hearts before earning his B.S. at the “Harvard of the Midwest,” as well as the title of “Third Most Successful Cueno Child.” After reaching his full potential in the heartland, Pete set off to become Pangaea’s most triple rectified guide, whose wilderness experience, in addition to his countless sea kayak, backpack, and raft expeditions, ranges from alpine ascents in Patagonia to backcountry snowboard trips throughout the Western United States. In his many years with Pangaea, the Sweeter Sueño has led every single trip on the menu, as well as operated as general manager, whitewater extraordinaire, and guide-training guru. He is a witty fountain of knowledge and will lay down his all to ensure that you have the best experience possible. This guy is the real deal.

Thomas Mooney-Myers

“Mas” came to us after having developed his love of sea kayaking and whitewater in the Pacific Northwest. As comfortable charging the rapids of Keystone Canyon as he is paddling in the serene beauty of Columbia Bay, Thomas will make you feel confident and at ease on any trip out with him. He’s a quick-wit and always has a fun, positive buzz about him. Well known for his insatiable appetite for knowledge, Thomas cannot wait to fill your ear with all of the interesting factoids he has bottled up inside. Feel free to snuggle up close, and ask why the baby seal is his spirit animal.

Mike Dooley

Mike Dooley, aka “Dooley”, aka “Baldy”, is a legend around Pangaea. He first joined the team as an arctic intern, then returned as a lead guide for many years, and now often helps out with training. He is a most enthusiastic guide with a true love for what he does. Graduating with a degree in Environmental Education and also becoming an NOLS kayaking instructor, Dooley is sure to teach you a thing or two. If you ever have the good fortune of meeting this genuine pleasure, be sure to ask him about his cheeseburger addiction, or unmistakable support for the Boston Bruins.

Ruby Rose

Born and raised in Valdez, meet our team mascot, Ruby! She’s Australian Shepherd and Australian Cattle Dog, but her red heeler genes run strong. She loves swimming and playing frisbee most, but will join any adventure you take her on. She enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking, sun bathing and boat rides and is always on the hunt for a stinky salmon carcass. Ruby joined the Duffy family and Pangaea team in 2017 and is always making new friends. Stop by our office to say hello sometime, and look out for her many siblings around town!

Dylan Duffy

Our youngest guy joins the team just shy of 3 years of age. He didn’t have much of a choice, as he was born into Pangaea and has been steeped in the adventure since conception. He enjoys helping mom in the office, driving boats with dad, or practicing slap shots in the garage with his pal Ruby. Ask Dylan to help you fix a kayak, and he’ll be there with his toy tools in a heartbeat!

Ava Duffy

Ava is in the same boat as Dylan. Literally. She can’t escape the lifestyle that is Pangaea now that she’s entered the arena. She graces us with her silly smile and her bouncy curls, and her determination to follow her big brother everywhere. At barely even a year old, Ava has already spent countless hours deckhanding and helping with reservations, but she is best at making sure mom and dad stay on task and are productive. This gal is ready to roll at any minute and we anxiously await her kayak skills to show themselves!

Pangaea Guides

Professional Sea Kayak and Glacier Guides

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Tim Duffy aka “Duff”

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Kristina Duffy

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David Schmidtman

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Cole Green

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